BARtalk #11: Ukraine in Crisis – UBC Professors Answer Your Questions

Recently, the provincial assembly in the embattled Crimean region of Ukraine decided to hold a referendum to join the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian government has called this an “illegitimate action” and a huge provocation against the country. At the same time, Canada has recalled its ambassador to Russia, suspended its participation in meetings leading up to the G8 summit in Sochi this year, and has called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately. This has been echoed by many other countries, which are calling Russia’s actions in the region a violation of international law and reminiscent of Cold War era tactics.

What is happening in Ukraine? What are the underlying causes of this crisis? What’s Russia’s role? Could this escalate into a broader conflict in the region?

Join us for an informal, interactive discussion on the situation in Ukraine featuring our expert panel:

**Arjun Chowdhury** is a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia. His ongoing research focuses on autocratic regimes and the transition to democracy, effect of counter-insurgency campaigns and the transition from imperial to the international system. He has also commented on the events in Ukraine and what it means for the state of democracy in the country. (link: http://bit.ly/1f7nJHe)

**Kurt Hübner** is a professor of European Studies and the Jean Monnet Chair at the Institute for European Studies at UBC. His research interests include the European Union, global and European currency regimes and the European integration project. He will be speaking about the role of the European Union in the crisis and its impact in the region.

**Florian Gassner**is an instructor in the Department of Central, Eastern & Northern European Studies. Last year, he was a visiting lecturer at Donetsk National University in Ukraine. A recent graduate of UBC’s PhD program in Germanic Studies, his thesis was called “ Germany Versus Russia: A Social History of the Divide between East and West.”